The Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection (LICAP) will host lotteries giving away smart sprinkler systems in four Long Island communities beginning tonight as part of a broad effort to promote the conservation of the sole source aquifer that provides 100% of the island’s drinking water supply.
The lotteries will be held in the following locations on the following dates:
Greenport: Monday, April 16 at Floyd Memorial Library, 6 p.m.
Long Beach: Wednesday, April 18 at Long Beach Library (main branch), 7 p.m.
Great Neck: Thursday, April 26 at Great Neck House, 6 p.m.
Sayville: Friday, April 27 at Sayville Library, 6 p.m.
The smart sprinkler systems, valued at more than $300 each, are just one component of a major conservation outreach campaign to change the daily routines of Long Island residents regarding their water use. A radio and print ad campaign has been running in the targeted communities and beyond for several weeks.
Winning entrants in the lotteries must replace an existing controlled irrigation system with the smart sprinkler system, use it for at least three years, and allow LICAP representatives to monitor usage to track how much less water they used with the smart device versus their current irrigation system.
"We’re going to show people real numbers to prove to them how much water—and therefore money—they can save by making the switch to an efficient watering system," said LICAP Chairman Stan Carey. "The problem is, right now a lot of people just set their systems and then forget them till fall, even though the water needs of a lawn in early spring are far different from the middle of summer. We think this campaign is just the beginning of making real changes in habits that will help to preserve our aquifer system."
The campaign and smart sprinkler systems were funded via a New York State grant.
A Smart Sprinkler System Lottery winner (center) takes home his new smart controller at Floyd Memorial Library, April 16, where he is congratulated by Town of Southold Councilman Robert Ghosio (left) and LICAP's Ty Fuller.